Indiana Public Media News

IU Professor Advocates Social Networking in K-12 Education

Posted August 31, 2009

Indiana state education funding formula is up for review, and experts feel alternative learning is the new key tool.

The state education funding formula is in flux, but experts say there is room for alternative learning growth, including adding more technology to classrooms. With ISTEP scores in math and English decreasing in public schools since 2007, one expert says it’s time to examine the formula by which students learn and perhaps infuse it with more technology.

Dr. Curtis Bonk from Indiana University’s School of Education feels learning will come naturally for students when they’re engaged by social networks that use forms of technologies which intrigue and stimulate their minds.

“Teachers can assist the students in fostering their reflection to become more aware of their strengths and weaknesses as writers. Then in the areas of math and English the teachers may assign projects and problems, which students can solve in the more authentic real world data collection,” Bonk said.

Bonk says about 1.5 billion people around the world have access to the internet. But 60,000 people an hour access mobile networks, meaning future education standards will likely become more personalized and offer a blended approach to learning. “Technology has always been a way to bring an interesting progressive way to bring education in through the back door, and today it’s more empowering,” Bonk said.

Both a traditional form of learning and new technology initiatives are vital to the education formula, especially since students learn in different ways.

“If we include the content delivery from the experts, as well as the students manipulating and generating their own content we will have the best of both worlds,” he said.

Shameka Neely, a native of Nashville, Tennessee enthusiastically joined WTIU as Senior Reporter/ InFocus Producer in the news department. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational and Corporate Communication, with a minor in Marketing and Masters of Arts Degrees' in Administrative Dynamics and Communication all from Western Kentucky University. Shameka also holds a Master of Arts degree in Journalism from Indiana University.

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